Gray: 'England FA is voice in the wilderness'

Despite criticism of Qatar's searing temperatures, Al Jazeera's Andy Gray in no doubt country can host 2022 World Cup.

Sat Aug 10 2013 14:33:32 GMT+0000

The head of the English Football Association, Greg Dyke, has called on football’s world governing body FIFA to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar either to winter or to another country.

Qatar won the hosting rights three years ago despite reservations by FIFA's own inspection team, which highlighted the searing summer heat in the Gulf.

Dyke has said that even if stadiums in Qatar are air-conditioned, it would be impossible for fans to cope in the 50 degree heart.

The debate has been rumbling on ever since, prompting FIFA president Sepp Blatter to ask his executive committee to consider whether their showpiece event should be moved to the winter. This has led to opposition from the English Premier League who say such a change would disrupt their season.

However, former Scotland and Everton striker, and Al Jazeera Sport pundit Andy Gray believes Qatar are capable of hosting a summer World Cup, and in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s Paul Rhys, has criticised the FA’s opposition as a ‘voice in the wilderness’.